Konstantin V Tserpitsky (December 11, 1849 – November 14, 1905) was a Russian commander,
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
, participant in the campaigns of 1873, 1875–1876, 1878 and 1880 in
Turkestan
Turkestan, also spelled Turkistan ( fa, ترکستان, Torkestân, lit=Land of the Turks), is a historical region in Central Asia corresponding to the regions of Transoxiana and Xinjiang.
Overview
Known as Turan to the Persians, western Turke ...
, the Chinese campaign of 1900-1901 and the
Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. He distinguished himself during the suppression of the
Boxer Uprising
The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, the Boxer Insurrection, or the Yihetuan Movement, was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by ...
(1900-1901). Brother of General Tserpitsky V.V., who died during the defense of Port Arthur.
Biography
Tserpitsky came from hereditary noblemen of the
Grodno
Grodno (russian: Гродно, pl, Grodno; lt, Gardinas) or Hrodna ( be, Гродна ), is a city in western Belarus. The city is located on the Neman River, 300 km (186 mi) from Minsk, about 15 km (9 mi) from the Polish b ...
province.
He graduated from the 2nd St. Petersburg Military Gymnasium (1865) and the 1st Pavlovsk Military School (1867).
He participated in campaigns in Turkestan in 1873, 1875–1876, 1878 and 1880.
In 1875 - captain of the 3rd West Siberian Line Battalion.
C 1875 - major, from 1879 - lieutenant colonel, from 1882 - colonel.
In the years 1887–1892. - Commander of the 85th Vyborg Infantry Regiment.
C 1892 - commander of the 37th Yekaterinburg Infantry Regiment.
From 1895 - major general, from 1900 - lieutenant general.
Member of the Chinese campaign. After the capture of Beijing in August 1900 by European allied forces, General Tserpitsky, as part of General Stackelberg, took part in the siege of the Beitan fortress (12 kilometers from Tongu) at the head of one of the two assault columns. On September 7, 1900, a detachment led by Tserpitsky occupied the railway station. Beitan station, which served as the beginning of a general assault, which ended on the same day with the capture of all the forts of the fortress.
On September 11, Tserpitsky again set off on a campaign, towards Lutai, with the goal of occupying the Chinese railway Tonka-Shanghai-Huan-Yingkou. Occupying w. d. Tanshan station, on September 14, Tserpitsky received a letter from the commandant of the Shanghai-Guan fortress in which he agreed to all the conditions for the surrender of the fortress to the Russians. On September 15, Tserpitsky's detachment set off to occupy Shanghaihauan on two trains. On September 19, 1900, during the final operations to destroy small detachments, General Tserpitsky captured Shanghai Shanghai on the border with Manchuria.
On October 26, 1900, Major General Tserpitsky was appointed head of the South Manchurian detachment.
In late summer and early fall of 1901, Russian troops organized and conducted operations in northern
Manchuria
Manchuria is an exonym (derived from the endo demonym " Manchu") for a historical and geographic region in Northeast Asia encompassing the entirety of present-day Northeast China (Inner Manchuria) and parts of the Russian Far East (Outer Manc ...
to capture the last remaining leaders of the hunhuz movement. Back in May, the general leadership of these operations was assigned to the commander of the 2nd Siberian Corps, Lieutenant General A.V. Kaulbars, with the subordination of Lieutenant General Tserpitsky and the troops of the South Manchurian Detachment to him during the hostilities.
Even before these operations against the leaders of the Chinese rebel movement, General Tserpitsky, several private operations were carried out against the Hunhuz in southern Manchuria. The result of these actions was the capture of the Chinese general Sheu and the surrender of yet another leader of the Hunhus Fulango.
In August 1901, Lieutenant General Tserpitsky surrendered the command of the South Manchurian detachment to Major General Fleischer, who commanded him at the beginning of the campaign, when attacking Khaichen.
From February 20, 1902 to December 11, 1903 - commander of the 13th Infantry Division.
In 1904 - commander of the 1st Turkestan Army Corps (from December 11, 1903 to November 14, 1904).
From November 1904 to September 1905 - commander of the 10th Army Corps, which took part in the battles near Liaoyang and Mukden during the Russo-Japanese War.
During the battle of Mukden, on February 23, 1905, against the general background of a situation close to critical, the detachments of generals Tserpitsky and Gerngross launched a counterattack on the 3rd Japanese army near Tzenitun (Thetenun) and temporarily stopped the advance of the enemy.
Even later, an officer arrives from General Tserpitsky and talks about the attack of some village, whose name I do not remember. The corps commander, General Tserpitsky, personally led the Buzuluk regiment to attack. Without a shot he went up to a fortified enemy position. Instantly, the Japanese were kicked out of the trenches and thrown back.
-
['' Шахновский И. К.'' Жёлтая туча. (12 месяцев войны с Японией). Дневник корреспондента. — М.: Д. П. Ефимов, 1905.]
Died in Cannes from wounds received near Mukden. He was buried in the Gran Jas cemetery.
Awards
*
Order of St. George
The Order of Saint George (russian: Орден Святого Георгия, Orden Svyatogo Georgiya) is the highest military decoration of the Russian Federation. Originally established on 26 November 1769 Julian (7 December 1769 Gregorian) a ...
4th degree (December 29, 1876) "In retribution for the distinction shown in the battle against the Kokans during the siege of the Namangan Citadel, October 24, 1875, where, having volunteered to hunters, with the team entrusted to him, he took until 9- these enemy blockages. "
*Golden weapon (1901)
*Order of St. George 3rd degree (October 13, 1905) "For the difference in cases against the Japanese."
*
Order of the Double Dragon
The Imperial Order of the Double Dragon () was an order awarded in the late Qing dynasty.
The Order was founded by the Guangxu Emperor on 7 February 1882 as an award for outstanding services to the throne and the Qing court. Originally it was a ...
(04/23/1902) "For contribution to the restoration of calm in Manchuria after the defeat of the Boxer Uprising of 1898-1901"
Literature
*Makovkin A.E. 1st Nerchinsk Regiment of the Transbaikal Cossack Army. 1898-1906 Historical background. - SPb., 1907.
Sources
Золотое оружие К. В. Церпицкого
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tserpitsky, Konstantin
1849 births
1905 deaths
Russian military personnel of the Russo-Japanese War